Devils Kitchen Campground

Devils Kitchen is a four-site backcountry vehicle campground in Canyonlands' Needles District, reached by Elephant Hill Road. It suits experienced four-wheel-drive drivers looking to camp among big sandstone formations; getting there is a serious part of the trip. The campground is about a two-hour drive from the Needles Visitor Center.

All Needles backcountry roads require a high-clearance, low-range 4WD. Elephant Hill is one of Utah's most technical four-wheel-drive roads, with steep grades, loose rock, stair-step drops, tight turns and tricky backing. The National Park Service warns inexperienced drivers not to attempt it. Vehicles and vehicle-trailer combinations longer than 21 feet are prohibited on the Elephant Hill system. Rain or snow can change the unpaved route quickly, so check current road conditions before you go.

Each of the four designated sites requires an overnight backcountry permit. Spring and fall demand often exceeds the number available, so plan ahead. Each site allows up to 10 people and three vehicles, with trailers and motorcycles counted as vehicles. Vault toilets are provided, but there is no water at the campsites; bring your own water and a way to manage human waste. Pack everything out. Pets aren't allowed on the Needles 4WD roads, even in vehicles.

The draw is sleeping deep in the Needles among sandstone boulders and alcoves. A campsite here can tuck a tent beneath a huge rock overhang, with the road and the red-rock setting right beside camp. This is a good fit if remote, self-sufficient camping is the point; it is a poor choice if you want an easy drive or developed facilities.